Is tick fever contagious. How does Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever spread. What are the most common tickborne diseases in the United States. How can travelers protect themselves from international tickborne illnesses. What are the symptoms of Lyme disease and other tick-transmitted infections.

The Global Impact of Tickborne Diseases

Tickborne diseases pose a significant health threat worldwide, with various species of ticks capable of transmitting a range of pathogens to humans. These illnesses can vary in severity and prevalence depending on geographical location, climate, and the specific tick species involved. Understanding the global distribution and impact of these diseases is crucial for both travelers and healthcare professionals.

International Tickborne Diseases of Concern

Several tickborne diseases are particularly noteworthy on the international stage:

• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: Found in Eastern Europe, northwestern China, central Asia, southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent
• African spotted fever: Caused by Rickettsia africae, it’s the most frequently diagnosed rickettsial infection in U.S. travelers returning from abroad
• Kyasanur forest disease: Prevalent in southern India, with a similar virus (Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus) identified in Saudi Arabia
• Lyme disease: Common in temperate forested regions of Europe and northern Asia, with different Borrelia species causing varying symptoms compared to U.S. cases
• Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever: Occurs in western Siberia, including the regions of Omsk, Novosibirsk, Kurgan, and Tyumen
• Tickborne encephalitis: Found in forested areas from eastern France to northern Japan and from northern Russia to Albania

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Transmission and Contagion

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a serious bacterial infection caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever contagious from person to person. No, RMSF is not directly contagious between humans. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick, primarily the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, or brown dog tick.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of RMSF

Early symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can include:

• Sudden onset of fever
• Severe headache
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rash (typically appearing 2-4 days after fever onset)

Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for RMSF, as it can be fatal if left untreated. Healthcare providers typically diagnose the disease based on symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory tests.

Lyme Disease: A Growing Concern in the United States

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tickborne illness in the United States. How is Lyme disease transmitted. Lyme disease is primarily spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also known as deer ticks.

The Rising Incidence of Lyme Disease

The incidence of Lyme disease has been increasing in recent years, particularly in certain regions of the United States. In Minnesota, for example, health officials have reported a significant uptick in cases. This trend underscores the importance of tick prevention measures and early detection of symptoms.

Borrelia mayonii: A New Player in Lyme Disease

In 2013, researchers identified a closely related bacteria, Borrelia mayonii, which causes an illness similar to Lyme disease. This discovery highlights the evolving nature of tickborne pathogens and the need for ongoing research and surveillance.

Anaplasmosis: An Emerging Tickborne Threat

Anaplasmosis, formerly known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), is a bacterial disease transmitted by blacklegged ticks. First recognized in Minnesota in the early 1990s, anaplasmosis has become an increasingly important tickborne illness in the United States.

Symptoms and Treatment of Anaplasmosis

Common symptoms of anaplasmosis include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Severe headache
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion (in severe cases)

Anaplasmosis is typically treated with doxycycline, an antibiotic effective against various tickborne pathogens. Early treatment is essential to prevent complications and ensure a full recovery.

Babesiosis: A Less Common but Serious Tickborne Illness

Babesiosis is a protozoan infection that occurs less frequently than Lyme disease or anaplasmosis in many regions. However, it can be a serious illness, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems or those who have had their spleen removed.

Co-infection with Lyme Disease

An interesting aspect of babesiosis is its potential for co-infection with Lyme disease. Up to 20 percent of patients diagnosed with babesiosis also have Lyme disease. This co-infection can complicate diagnosis and treatment, as symptoms may overlap or be more severe than in single infections.

Ehrlichiosis: Varying Species and Regional Distribution

Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial infection caused by several species of Ehrlichia bacteria. In the United States, two main types of ehrlichiosis affect humans:

1. Ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis: More common in southeastern and south-central states
2. Ehrlichiosis due to Ehrlichia muris subspecies eauclairensis: First reported in 2009, with cases primarily in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis can cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Fever and chills
• Severe headache
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion or changes in mental state
• Rash (more common in children)

Diagnosis of ehrlichiosis typically involves a combination of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and patient history, including potential tick exposure.

Powassan Virus Disease: A Rare but Severe Tickborne Illness

Powassan virus disease is a rare but potentially severe tickborne illness caused by a flavivirus. First reported in a Minnesota resident in 2008, Powassan virus has since been identified in patients from the Upper Midwest and Northeastern states of the U.S.

Transmission and Symptoms of Powassan Virus Disease

Powassan virus is primarily transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei). Unlike many other tickborne pathogens, Powassan virus can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes after tick attachment.

Symptoms of Powassan virus disease can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Loss of coordination
• Speech difficulties
• Seizures

In severe cases, Powassan virus can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord).

Emerging Tickborne Pathogens: Borrelia miyamotoi and Beyond

The field of tickborne diseases is constantly evolving, with new pathogens being discovered and characterized. One such emerging pathogen is Borrelia miyamotoi, a spirochete bacteria related to the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Borrelia miyamotoi Disease

Borrelia miyamotoi was first identified as a human pathogen in 2011. Since then, cases have been reported in various regions where Ixodes ticks are prevalent, including parts of the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Symptoms of B. miyamotoi disease can include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Body and joint pain
• Fatigue

While B. miyamotoi infection can cause relapsing fever, it does not typically produce the characteristic bull’s-eye rash associated with Lyme disease.

The Importance of Ongoing Surveillance and Research

The discovery of pathogens like B. miyamotoi underscores the importance of continued surveillance and research in the field of tickborne diseases. As climate change alters tick habitats and human activities bring people into closer contact with tick-infested areas, the potential for new and emerging tickborne illnesses remains a significant concern for public health officials and researchers alike.

Preventing Tickborne Diseases: Strategies for Protection

Given the wide range of tickborne diseases and their potential for serious health consequences, prevention is key. How can individuals protect themselves from tick bites and reduce the risk of contracting tickborne illnesses. Here are some effective strategies:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in tick-infested areas
• Conduct thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors
• Shower within two hours of coming indoors
• Put clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks
• Use tick prevention products on pets
• Create tick-safe zones in your yard by removing leaf litter, clearing tall grasses and brush, and creating a barrier between lawns and wooded areas

The Importance of Prompt Tick Removal

If you find a tick attached to your skin, it’s crucial to remove it promptly and properly. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

Prompt removal is particularly important because many tickborne pathogens require several hours of attachment before transmission can occur. However, some viruses, like Powassan virus, can be transmitted more quickly, emphasizing the need for vigilance and regular tick checks when spending time outdoors.

Tickborne Diseases in Travelers: Special Considerations

Travelers venturing to areas where tickborne diseases are endemic face unique challenges and risks. How can travelers protect themselves from international tickborne illnesses. Here are some key considerations:

• Research the specific tickborne diseases present in your destination
• Consult with a travel medicine specialist before your trip
• Pack appropriate insect repellents and protective clothing
• Be aware that some tickborne diseases, like Lyme disease, may present differently outside the United States
• Know that standard U.S. tests for Lyme disease may not reliably detect all Borrelia species found internationally
• Consider vaccination against tickborne encephalitis if traveling to endemic areas in Europe or Asia
• Be cautious when consuming unpasteurized dairy products, as some tickborne pathogens can be transmitted through contaminated milk or cheese

Post-Travel Vigilance

After returning from travel to tick-endemic areas, it’s important to remain vigilant for symptoms of tickborne illnesses. Some infections may not manifest symptoms for weeks or even months after exposure. If you develop unexplained fever, rash, or other concerning symptoms after travel, seek medical attention promptly and inform your healthcare provider about your recent travel history and potential tick exposures.

The Future of Tickborne Disease Research and Prevention

As the incidence of tickborne diseases continues to rise globally, researchers and public health officials are working tirelessly to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. What advancements can we expect in the field of tickborne disease research. Some promising areas of focus include:

• Development of more effective and long-lasting tick repellents
• Creation of vaccines against Lyme disease and other tickborne pathogens
• Improvement of diagnostic tests to more accurately and quickly identify tickborne infections
• Implementation of tick control strategies at the environmental level
• Advancement of genetic tools to modify ticks and reduce their ability to transmit pathogens
• Enhanced surveillance systems to track the spread of ticks and tickborne diseases
• Increased public education and awareness campaigns to promote tick bite prevention

As our understanding of tickborne diseases grows, so too does our ability to combat these complex and often challenging infections. By combining cutting-edge research with practical prevention strategies, we can work towards reducing the global burden of tickborne illnesses and protecting public health for generations to come.

Diseases Transmitted by Ticks | Ticks

This list shows the most common tickborne diseases outside the United States, but does not list every disease.

• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is found in Eastern Europe, particularly in the former Soviet Union; in northwestern China; central Asia; southern Europe; Africa; the Middle East; and the Indian subcontinent.
• Imported tickborne spotted fevers (rickettsial infections) have caused infection in returning travelers. In the U.S., the most frequently diagnosed rickettsial infection associated with international travel is caused by Rickettsia africae (the agent of African spotted fever).
• Kyasanur forest disease is found in southern India and is typically associated with exposure to ticks while harvesting forest products. Additionally, a similar virus has been described in Saudi Arabia (Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus).
• Lyme disease can be contracted in temperate forested regions throughout Europe and northern Asia, although it is more common in eastern and central Europe than western Europe. Lyme disease outside the United States is often caused by different genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and may have somewhat different symptoms. Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species that cause infection outside the United States may not be reliably detected by all tests used for Lyme disease in the United States. Providers who suspect internationally-acquired Lyme disease should use diagnostic tests that have been validated for these species.
• Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever (OHF) occurs in the western Siberia regions of Omsk, Novosibirsk, Kurgan, and Tyumen. It may be also be acquired by direct contact with infected muskrats.
• Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) occurs in some forested areas in Europe and Asia, from eastern France to northern Japan and from northern Russia to Albania. TBE is caused by TBE virus, a flavivirus that is closely related to Powassan virus. TBE virus has three subtypes: European, Siberian, and Far Eastern. TBE virus is primarily transmitted to humans by infected Ixodes species ticks. It can also be acquired by ingesting unpasteurized dairy products (such as milk and cheese) from infected goats, sheep, or cows.

Note: Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, tickborne relapsing fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Powassan disease can also be acquired internationally.

See also:

Diseases that can be Transmitted by Ticks

In Minnesota, there are about a dozen different types of ticks. Not all of them spread disease but it is always best to protect yourself against tick bites. The most common ticks that people come across in Minnesota are the American dog tick (commonly known as the wood tick) and the blacklegged tick (commonly known as the deer tick). The blacklegged tick causes by far the most tickborne diseases in Minnesota. The diseases spread by ticks in Minnesota include:

• Lyme Disease
  
  Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is a potentially serious bacterial infection affecting both humans and animals. It is the most common tickborne disease reported in Minnesota and in the United States. The incidence of Lyme disease in Minnesota has been increasing in recent years. In 2013, a closely related bacteria, Borrelia mayonii, was found to cause an illness similar to Lyme disease (see below for more information on Borrelia mayonii disease).
• Anaplasmosis
  
  Anaplasmosis, formerly known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
  (HGE) is a bacterial disease that was first recognized in Minnesota
  in the early 1990s. It is transmitted to people by blacklegged ticks (deer ticks), the same ticks that
  transmit Lyme disease. Anaplasmosis is less common than Lyme disease, however.
• Babesiosis
  
  Babesiosis is a protozoan infection that occurs infrequently in Minnesota. Up to 20 percent of patients diagnosed with Babesiosis also have Lyme disease.
• Ehrlichiosis
  
  Ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis is found throughout much of south-eastern and south-central United States and is not a common disease in Minnesota at this time, although a small number of cases have been reported. Ehrlichiosis due to Ehrlichia muris subspecies eauclairensis was first reported in 2009. Since then, low numbers of cases have been reported in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• Powassan Virus Disease
  Powassan virus is a tickborne flavivirus that has been reported in patients from the Upper Midwest and Northeastern states. It was first reported in a Minnesota resident in 2008 with low numbers of cases reported in the state since then.
• Borrelia miyamotoi Disease
  Borrelia miyamotoi was recently identified in 2011 to cause an illness in humans similar to tickborne relapsing fever. It is distantly related to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Small numbers of human cases have been reported to date from the Upper Midwest and Northeastern states.
• Borrelia mayonii Disease
  Borrelia mayonii was recently identified in 2013 to cause an illness similar to Lyme disease. To date, this organism has only been found in patients with exposures to blacklegged ticks in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
  
  Rocky Mountain spotted fever is extremely rare in Minnesota, but isolated cases have been reported within the state. This disease is transmitted by the American dog tick.
• Tularemia
  
  Tularemia is a potentially serious illness that occurs naturally in the United States. It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis and can be transmitted by American dog ticks as well biting flies or infected animals. Human cases of tularemia are rarely reported in Minnesota.

Tickborne Diseases Affecting Travelers

Minnesota residents who travel to other countries or certain areas of the United States may become sick with one of the tickborne diseases listed above or other tickborne diseases. Avoidance of tick bites and use of tick repellent are recommended when traveling to potential tick habitat within affected areas. For more information on international travel, visit International Travel & Infectious Disease.

Lyme Disease and Other Diseases Carried by Ticks

It’s important for you and your family to be tick free!

Ticks can spread disease. Not all ticks can cause disease and not all bites will make you sick, but as these diseases become more common it’s important to learn how to prevent a bite, how to remove a tick and what to do if you think you could have a tick-borne disease.

Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in New York but there are other serious diseases spread by ticks. And like Lyme, the other diseases will begin to spread to other regions across the state.

Protect Against and Prevent Disease

Deer ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls.

Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected area.

In tick-infested areas, your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work or otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you can still protect yourself:

• Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
• Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
• Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
• Consider using insect repellent.
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
• Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
• Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
• Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.

Dress to Repel

Wear light-colored clothes and tuck pants into socks and shirt into pants.

Insect repellents

If you use insect repellents, follow label directions and apply repellent carefully.

Remove a tick as soon as you find one on you

Removing a tick as soon as you find it will reduce the likelihood of contracting any disease that a tick may be carrying.

When to call a doctor after a tick bite

If you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately. Although not routinely recommended, taking antibiotics within three days after a tick bite may be beneficial for some persons. This would apply to deer tick bites that occurred in areas where Lyme disease is common and there is evidence that the tick fed for more than one day. In cases like this you should discuss the possibilities with your doctor or licensed health care provider.

Ticks that carry disease in NYS

Diseases Spread by Ticks

Lyme disease – is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected deer tick.

Anaplasmosis and Erhlichioisis – are tick-borne diseases caused by two different bacteria transmitted by the bite of a tick. The lone star tick causes erhlichiosis and the deer tick causes anaplasmosis.

Babesiosis – is a rare, disease caused by various types of microscopic parasites from the bite of an infected deer tick.

Powassan virus disease – is a rare, but often serious disease caused by a virus that is spread by the bite of infected ticks

Rocky Mountain spotted fever – is a rare disease caused by the bite of an infected American dog tick.

Your Pets and Tick-borne diseases

Ehrlichiosis | Cedars-Sinai

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What is ehrlichiosis?

Ehrlichiosis is an illness caused
by bacteria. It is spread by ticks. The illness causes fever, muscle aches, and other
symptoms. It’s an uncommon illness that can affect people of all ages. It happens
most
often in the spring and summer months. This is when people have a higher risk of contact
with infected ticks.

Ticks are a kind of parasite. They’re related to spiders and scorpions. They feed
by attaching to an animal and sucking its blood. This makes it easy for ticks to spread
disease.

What causes ehrlichiosis?

Ehrlichiosis is part of a group of
diseases that spread through tick bites. Other diseases that spread through tick bites
include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis. The bacteria
that
cause ehrlichiosis commonly infect white-tailed deer and sometimes other animals in
the
wild. When a tick bites one of these animals, the tick becomes infected. As the animal
runs through forest or underbrush, the ticks attach to leaves or grass. If a person
then
brushes against such a leaf or grass, the tick can become attached to the person.
An
infected tick can spread the bacteria to humans. When a tick bites a person, the
bacteria go into the person’s bloodstream. The most common bacteria that cause
ehrlichiosis are Ehrlichia chaffeensis. 

Ehrlichiosis is not contagious. You
can’t get it from spending time with someone who has it. In rare cases, you may get
it
through a blood donation or organ transplant.

Who is at risk for ehrlichiosis?

Certain types of ticks can become
infected with Ehrlichia bacteria. The most common is the lone star tick (Amblyomma
americanum). You may have a higher risk for ehrlichiosis if you spend a lot of time
outdoors in woody, bushy areas where these ticks are found. You may also have an
increased risk if you live in an area of the country where lone star ticks are common.
These ticks are most common in the southeastern, south-central, and mid-Atlantic regions
of the U.S. But they are also seen in other areas.

What are the symptoms of ehrlichiosis?

Symptoms range from mild to
life-threatening. They may include:

• Fever and chills
• Severe headache
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Red eyes
• Rash (more common in children than adults)

You may only have some of these symptoms. They may begin within 1 to 2 weeks of the
tick bite. Some people can be infected and have no symptoms. Older adults and people
with other health conditions, such as HIV, are more likely to have severe symptoms.

How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask
about your medical history and your symptoms. Tell your healthcare provider if you
know
you had a recent tick bite. Your healthcare provider may ask about your outdoor exposure
in areas of the country where these ticks are common. You’ll also need a physical
exam.

Your healthcare provider will need results from certain tests to
diagnose the condition. These may include blood tests to check:

• Indirect immunofluorescent assay
  (IFA). This test will confirm the diagnosis. But it takes about 21 days. A blood
  sample is taken the first week of symptoms. Then a second sample may be taken 2 to
  4
  weeks later to confirm.
• Your white blood cells under a microscope. The bacteria may be seen inside the white
  blood cell.
• Polymerase chain reaction. This allows
  the healthcare provider to “multiply” parts of the bacteria, which can then be
  detected. This test is most sensitive the first week of the illness.
• Antibodies. These may not become
  positive for 1 to 2 weeks. They are generally not helpful in diagnosing the infection
  while you are acutely ill.

Ehrlichiosis is often hard to
diagnose. You may have only very mild symptoms that could be caused by many other
diseases. Some people with ehrlichiosis may not know that a tick bit them. You may
be
referred to a healthcare provider who specializes in infectious disease for
diagnosis.

How is ehrlichiosis treated?

Ehrlichiosis needs treatment right away and in most cases treatment is started before
the diagnosis is confirmed. This is done to help prevent severe complications.

Antibiotic medicine is the main treatment. Doxycycline is given most often. This is
shown to work against the bacteria. If you have early treatment and have only mild
symptoms, you can probably take your antibiotic at home. Your fever will likely go
away in a few days. Your other symptoms may not go away for a few weeks. 

If you have severe illness, your
recovery may take longer. You may need to receive antibiotics through an IV
(intravenous) line at the hospital. Some people with severe ehrlichiosis may need
supportive care in an intensive care unit.

What are possible complications of ehrlichiosis?

In some cases, especially in those
who have a weak immune system (such as from HIV or cancer), ehrlichiosis can cause
serious complications, such as:

• Brain problems, like confusion, seizures, or coma
• Excess bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Heart failure
• Breathing (respiratory) failure
• Kidney failure
• Septic shock

These complications may need additional treatments, such as fluids, breathing support,
or kidney dialysis. They are more likely in older adults or in people with other health
conditions. Very rarely, they may happen in healthy people with a delayed diagnosis
who do not get the right treatment. In a small number of people, these complications
can lead to death.

What can I do to prevent ehrlichiosis?

To help prevent ehrlichiosis:

• Stay away from wooded and bushy areas
  with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails instead.
• Wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and enclosed shoes. Tuck your
  pants into your socks while out hiking.
• Use tick repellents such as DEET or permethrin on exposed skin and clothing.
• Do a full-body check for ticks after coming in from the outdoors.
• Bathe or shower within a couple of hours after coming indoors, so you can more easily
  find and remove any ticks.
• Examine gear and pets for ticks.
• Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat to kill any remaining ticks.

If you do find a tick attached to your skin, remove it within 24 hours. Make sure
to:

• Use a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick directly by the head or mouth parts. Do not
  grab the tick by its body.
• Remove the tick by pulling it out firmly and directly outward.
• Place the tick in alcohol to kill it.
• Clean the bite wound with a disinfectant.

Take a photo of the tick. This can help identify the tick type if you have symptoms.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Healthcare providers don’t advise preventive treatment with antibiotics, so you don’t
need to call if you find a tick on your body. Most ticks don’t carry the bacteria
that cause the disease. But if you have possible symptoms of ehrlichiosis within 1
to 2 weeks after a tick bite, call your healthcare provider right away.

Key points about ehrlichiosis

• Ehrlichiosis is a type of bacterial
  infection spread through tick bites.
• You have a higher risk of ehrlichiosis
  in the spring and summer in certain parts of the country.
• You might have no symptoms, mild
  symptoms, or very severe symptoms from the infection.
• Antibiotics are the key treatment for
  ehrlichiosis. Severe symptoms are rare if treatment begins promptly. Call your
  healthcare provider if you have possible symptoms of ehrlichiosis within 1 to 2 weeks
  after a tick bite.
• Most ticks do not carry the bacteria
  that cause ehrlichiosis. You have a much lower risk of the disease if you remove an
  infected tick within 24 hours.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells
  you.
• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments,
  or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also
  know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that
  visit.
• Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.

Medical Reviewer: Barry Zingman MD

Medical Reviewer: Marianne Fraser MSN RN

Medical Reviewer: L Renee Watson MSN RN

© 2000-2021 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.

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AKC Canine Health Foundation | Tick-borne Disease: Prevalence, Prevention, and Treatment

Peer Reviewed

This article is also available as a downloadable PDF.

Contents

Introduction to Tick-borne Disease

Regional Prevalence of Tick-borne Disease

Keep Your Dog Safe from Tick-borne Disease

If My Dog Tests Positive, Does This Necessitate Treatment?

Ehrlichiosis

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Lyme Disease

Anaplasmosis

Babesiosis

Hepatozoonosis

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Introduction to Tick-borne Disease

Tick-borne disease occurs when ticks infected with a pathogen bite a dog and transmit the pathogen into the dog’s body. Many of these pathogens are zoonotic, meaning they can also infect humans. Disease is not spread between dogs and humans directly because these pathogens must complete their lifecycle phase within the tick to become infectious. Therefore, while humans and other non-canine family members can also become infected, a direct tick bite is required to transmit disease. The most common tick-borne diseases are Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Hepatozoonosis, Babesiosis, and Lyme disease. The feeding time required to allow disease transmission from a tick to a dog or person varies between ticks and disease agents. Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever-causing bacteria can be transmitted within 3-6 hours of tick attachment, while Lyme Disease-causing bacterial transmission can require 24-48 hours of feeding before a host is infected.

Regional Prevalence of Tick-borne Disease

Distribution of tick-borne disease is associated with the species of tick endemic to a given region. Distribution of tick species, prevalence of ticks within a region and the prevalence of infectious pathogens they carry is not stable and fluctuates on a seasonal basis depending on weather, rainfall and climate. For this reason monitoring of tick-borne disease is a dynamic, ongoing process.

This interactive map shows the number of reported positive cases of Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and heartworm disease in dogs. Maps are available for all regions of the United States and Canada. Because so many dogs go untested for tick-borne diseases, the actual number of dogs infected by ticks is likely many times higher than reported figures.

Keep Your Dog Safe from Tick-borne Disease

• Learn about the ticks and diseases in your area.
• Use preventives, including topical medication and tick collars. Be aware that tick preventatives do not prevent disease transmission; they reduce risk by reducing the tick burden in the dog’s environment.
• If your dog spends time outdoors, check them daily for ticks. Pay close attention to the head, ears, shoulders, and upper leg areas.
• Remove ticks immediately upon finding them, using tweezers to safely pull the tick from the dog’s skin. Avoid squeezing the tick to prevent transfer of the tick’s bodily fluids.
• Never spray human tick repellent on your dog as these chemicals are toxic if ingested.
• Talk to your veterinarian about annual testing for tick-borne disease. Testing is fast, effective, and can save costly veterinary bills of disease is not caught in its early stages.
• If your dog displays symptoms of tick-borne disease they may test negative at first. This is because most tests measure for the presence of antibodies against the pathogen, and antibodies take time to reach measurable levels in the blood. For that reason your veterinarian my test twice using an initial “acute” sample followed by a “convalescent” sample two weeks later. Alternately, discuss the use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostic testing for the pathogens themselves.

Species of Ticks That Carry Infectious Pathogens

• American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
• Deer Tick (or Black-legged Tick) (Ixodes scapularis)
• Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
• Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum)
• Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)
• Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni)
• Spinose Ear Tick (Otobius megnini)
• Western Black-legged Tick (Ixodes pacificus)

Brown dog ticks live and can infest inside and around homes and kennels where dogs are present, including in colder regions of North America such as Canada and Alaska.

Lone Star ticks, deer ticks, and Western black-legged ticks are most commonly found in the understory or leaf litter associated with natural wooded areas frequented by wildlife. The edge habitat often found surrounding a home or yard provides ample habitat to support these ticks.

American dog ticks, Rocky Mountain wood ticks and Gulf Coast ticks are more commonly found in tall, grassy meadows; open woods, particularly along trails; and open fields in agricultural areas.

Spinose ear ticks are found in arid areas west of the Mississippi, particularly in the south central and southwestern United States.

If My Dog Tests Positive, Does This Necessitate Treatment?

Veterinarians are able to effectively treat most tick-borne infections; however, the decision of whether to treat an asymptomatic dog remains a point of controversy. Dr. Adam Birkenheuer, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, an Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease specialist at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine recommends treatment after a positive test, followed by a complete blood cell count, serum biochemistry and urinalysis in 6 month intervals for 1 year. According to Dr. Birkenheuer “There are currently no evidence-based recommendations on whether or not to treat your pet if he or she is found to be exposed to a tick-transmitted infection like Ehrlichia or Borrelia. Some doctors may recommend treatment while others may not. The most important thing is to continue to monitor your pet for signs of illness with examinations and laboratory testing. I recommend this yearly for the rest of the pet’s life.”

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis [pronounced er-lick-ee-o-sis] is caused by Ehrlichia species of bacteria (Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia chaffeensis). Ehrlichia canis is transmitted by the brown dog tick; Ehrlichia ewingii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis are transmitted by the lone star tick. The highest concentration of Ehrlichia canis cases is reported in southwestern and Gulf Coast regions of the United States. The distribution and number of Ehrlichia ewingii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis cases are on the rise and can be found in states as far north as Massachusetts and as far west as central Oklahoma and Kansas.

Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichia species infect white blood cells and platelets, causing symptoms associated with inflammation and problems with blood clotting. Common symptoms can include any of the following:

• Depression and/or lack of energy
• Loss of appetite
• Runny eyes and nose/discharge
• Spontaneous nose bleeds
• Bruising on gums and belly
• Lameness/joint pain
• Spontaneous and shifting leg lameness
• Reluctance to move

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is caused by Rickettsia rickettsia bacteria. RMSF is transmitted by the American dog tick and the lone star tick. In dogs, Rocky Mountain spotted fever appears suddenly with severe illness lasting about two weeks. If not treated early enough, Rocky Mountain spotted fever can result in death. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is also a zoonotic disease, which means it can infect people as well as pets. While Rocky Mountain spotted fever is most prevalent in the Rocky Mountain States, it is also prevalent in the Southeast and can be found throughout the United States and Canada.

Symptoms of canine Rocky Mountain spotted fever
(Symptoms can range from moderate to severe.)

• Acute fever Depression and/or lack of energy
• Arthritis-like stiffness when walking
• Neurological abnormalities

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick and the western black-legged tick. Lyme disease has been found throughout the United States and Canada, but infections are most frequently diagnosed in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central states, as well as in California.

Symptoms of Lyme disease

• Spontaneous and shifting leg lameness that lasts 3–4 days, recurrent lameness due to inflammation of the joints
• Reluctance to move, fatigue
• Loss of appetite and depression

More serious complications include damage to the kidney, and rarely heart or nervous system disease symptoms may come and go and can mimic other health conditions. Cases vary from mild to severe with severe cases sometimes resulting in kidney failure and death.

Anaplasmosis

Canine anaplasmosis [pronounced an-uh-plaz-moh-sis] is caused by Anaplasma species of bacteria, specifically Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys. Both forms of canine anaplasmosis are found throughout the United States and Canada. Areas where canine anaplasmosis is more common include the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central states, as well as California. Anaplasma platys, specifically, is more common in Gulf Coast and southwestern states Anaplasma phagocytophilum is transmitted by the deer tick and the western black-legged tick. These are the same ticks that transmit Lyme disease which increases the risk of co-infection with multiple tick-borne diseases. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is also a zoonotic disease, which means it can infect people as well as pets. Anaplasma platys is transmitted by the brown dog tick.

Symptoms of Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Anaplasma phagocytophilum infect white blood cells, causing symptoms associated with inflammation. Symptoms are often vague and nonspecific.

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Lameness, reluctance to move
• Neck pain or neurologic signs in some cases

Symptoms of Anaplasma platys
Anaplasma platys infects platelets, causing symptoms associated with failure of blood clotting:

• Bruising on the gums and belly
• Spontaneous nosebleeds

Babesiosis

Babesiosis [pronounced ba-bee-zee-oh-sis] is caused by Babesia species of bacteria: Babesia gibsoni and Babesia vogeli. Babesia vogeli organisms are transmitted by the brown dog tick, but other species like Babesia gibsoni can also be transmitted from dog to dog if an infected dog bites another (fighting, etc.) or a blood transfusion. Babesiosis is found throughout the United States and Canada.

Symptoms of babesiosis
Babesiosis affects red blood cells, and as a dog’s immune system tries to eliminate the infected blood cells, anemia, pallor and general weakness may result.

• Lack of activity/lethargy
• Generalized weakness
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Hepatozoonosis

Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by infection with Hepatozoon species of parasites: Hepatozoon americanum is transmitted by the Gulf Coast tick, and Hepatozoon canis is transmitted by the brown dog tick. Cases of canine hepatozoonosis have been reported in the eastern and middle-southern regions of the United States. Unlike other vector-borne diseases that are transmitted by tick bite, both forms of canine hepatozoonosis are transmitted when a dog ingests an infected tick.

Symptoms of Hepatozoon canis
Hepatozoon canis infects white blood cells, causing vague, non-specific symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Lethargy

Symptoms of Hepatozoon americanum
Hepatozoon americanum affects muscle cells, resulting in a debilitating and potentially fatal condition. A dog infected with Hepatozoon americanum will typically show severe symptoms that occur intermittently. These can include any of the following:

• Fever/depression
• Generalized pain
• Loss of muscle mass with chronic weight loss
• Discharge from the eyes

How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones This Tick Season

What precautions can people take to avoid being bitten?
Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to see, and socks over pants and long-sleeved shirts to prevent ticks from getting near your skin. And don’t forget hats.

Applying a tick repellent with a concentration of DEET of up to 30% has proved effective either due to its smell or its ability to camouflage us when the ticks are putting out their feelers. The other thing that’s been studied is eucalyptus oil for those wishing to avoid DEET. Pretreatment of clothing with permethrin is also very effective, but you have to be careful about its use around cats. If you treat dogs with permethrin, cats need to be kept away from them.

When you’re outside, stay on paths. Once you brush against foliage, you’re putting yourself at risk.

Who’s most at risk for getting tick bites?
Kids are at risk because they might veer off walking paths and run through foliage without realizing it, as are pets because they’re always face-down smelling all these fabulous things outdoors. Hikers are at risk, as is anybody who is active outdoors.

What should you do if you’ve been in an area with ticks?
Immediately do a tick check on yourself, on your children, and on your pet when you get indoors. You can put your clothing into a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. Water doesn’t kill ticks, but heat does. And then, of course, do a body check. Ticks like to go anywhere it’s warm and protected, like under your arms, between your legs, around private parts, the back of your knees, your neck, in your hair, or behind your ears.

If you find a tick on your body, should you remove it? What is the best way to do it?
Once they attach, they can be difficult to pull out. There are a number of talked-about remedies that do not work and can be dangerous, like using petroleum jelly to “smother the tick” or “burning it off,” which just serves to cause a nasty burn. There’s really no way of doing it other than making sure you have a very sharp pair of tweezers. Not blunt tweezers, because if you squeeze the tick, you increase the potential to infect yourself. Try to pull it out from the mouth straight out, not twisting. That’s very important.

When you’re disposing of it, either flush it down the toilet or drop it in rubbing alcohol in case you end up with a rash and want to bring it in for identification.

Tickborne Disease Arkansas Department of Health

Tickborne Disease

Facts and Information

Tickborne Disease (TBD) is a type of zoonotic disease (an infectious disease transmitted between animals and humans) that is transmitted by ticks, a member of the arachnid family of insects. In Arkansas, ticks are responsible for more human disease than any other insect, but not all ticks transmit disease. Of the many different tick species found in Arkansas, only a select few bite and transmit disease to humans.

In Arkansas, the tickborne diseases known to occur are:

Many tickborne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms. If you have been bitten by a tick and develop the symptoms below within a few weeks, a health care provider should evaluate the following before deciding on a course of treatment:

• Your symptoms
• The geographic region in which you were bitten
• Diagnostic tests, if indicated by the symptoms and the region where you were bitten

The most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses are:

• Fever/chills: With all tickborne diseases, patients can experience a fever at varying degrees and times of onset.
• Aches and pains: Tickborne disease symptoms include headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. With Lyme disease, you may also experience joint pain. The severity and time of onset of these symptoms can depend on the disease and the patient’s personal tolerance level. 
• Rash: Lyme disease, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and tularemia can result in distinctive rashes.

Tickborne diseases can result in mild symptoms treatable at home to severe infections requiring hospitalization. Although easily treated with antibiotics, these diseases can be difficult for physicians to diagnose. However, early recognition and treatment of the infection decrease the risk of serious complications. So see your doctor immediately if you have been bitten by a tick and experience any of the symptoms described here. 

Tickborne diseases cannot be spread by person-to-person contact.

 

Tick Species

American Dog tick

American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) is the most commonly identified species responsible for transmitting Rickettsia rickettsii, which causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever in humans. The American dog tick can also transmit tularemia. This tick is widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains and also occurs in limited areas on the Pacific Coast. D. variabilis larvae and nymphs feed on small rodents. Dogs and medium-sized mammals are the preferred hosts of adult D. variabilis, although it feeds readily on other large mammals, including humans.

Blacklegged tick

The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), commonly known as a “deer tick”, can transmit the organisms responsible for anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease. This tick is widely distributed in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States. I. scapularis larvae and nymphs feed on small mammals and birds, while adults feed on larger mammals and will bite humans on occasion. It is important to note that the pathogen that causes Lyme disease is maintained by wild rodent and other small mammal reservoirs, and is not transmitted everywhere that the black-legged tick lives. In some regions, particularly in the southern U.S., the tick has very different feeding habits that make it an unlikely vector in the spread of human disease.  

Brown Dog tick

The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) has recently been identified as a reservoir of R. rickettsii, causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever, in the southwestern U.S. and along the U.S-Mexico border. Brown dog ticks are found throughout the U.S. and the world. Dogs are the primary host for the brown dog tick for each of its life stages, although the tick may also bite humans or other mammals.

Gulf Coast tick

The Gulf Coast tick resides in coastal areas of the United States along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast tick can transmit Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, a form of spotted fever. A. maculatum larvae and nymphs feed on birds and small rodents, while adult ticks feed on deer and other wildlife. Adult ticks have been associated with the transmission of R. parkeri to humans.

Lone Star tick

The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) transmits Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, causing human ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and STARI. The lone star tick is primarily found in the southeastern and eastern United States. White-tailed deer are a major host of lone star ticks and appear to represent one natural reservoir for E. chaffeensis. A. americanum larvae and nymphs feed on birds and deer. Both nymphal and adult ticks may be associated with the transmission of pathogens to humans.

​

90,000 Vector-borne tick-borne infections and their prevention

Tick-borne (spring-summer) encephalitis – an acute neuroviral natural focal transmissible infection characterized by fever, intoxication, damage to the central nervous system.

The infection is most common in the Republic of Belarus in the southwestern (Brest region) and western (Grodno) regions. In recent years, due to the expansion of the habitat of the vector of infection – ixodid ticks, the infection of which has reached 30-40%, the incidence has increased.

The causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis belongs to the genus Flavivirus , family Togaviridae , ecological group Arboviruses . The virus is a round particle, 20-40 nm in size, contains RNA, surrounded by a protein envelope. The eastern and western antigenic variants of viruses that cause various nosogeographic forms of tick-borne encephalitis are distinguished. The virus is cultivated in chicken embryos and cell cultures of various origins. Of domestic animals, sheep, goats, pigs and horses are most susceptible to the virus.

The main manifestations of the epidemic process. Tick-borne encephalitis belongs to the group of natural focal human diseases. The main reservoir and carrier of the virus in nature are ixodid ticks – Ixodes persulcatus, Ixcodes riciniis with transovarian transmission of infection. An additional reservoir of the virus is rodents (hare, hedgehog, chipmunk, field mouse), birds (thrush, goldfinch, tap dance, finch), predators (wolf). The main route of human infection is transmissible transmission through the bites of infected ticks .5-6 days after bloodsucking on an infected animal, the virus penetrates into all organs of the tick, concentrating in the reproductive apparatus, intestines, and salivary glands. The virus persists throughout the life of an arthropod (2 – 4 years), which determines the mechanism of infection in animals and humans and the transovarian transmission of the virus in ticks. In some foci of the disease, the infection of ticks exceeds 20%. Alimentary transmission of infection is also possible when eating raw milk from goats and cows (milk fever), as well as when a tick is crushed when it is removed from the human body, and, finally, by airborne droplets when the working regime in laboratories is violated.Tick-borne encephalitis is characterized by a strict spring-summer (May-June) seasonality of the incidence. More often people are sick at the age of 20-40 years. With the alimentary route of infection, the presence of family-group cases of the disease is characteristic.

Clinic. The incubation period lasts 7-14 days with fluctuations from 3 to 21 days. A shorter incubation period (4 – 6 days) was noted with alimentary infection. From the first days, the course of tick-borne encephalitis has a toxic-infectious nature . The disease begins acutely, with chills and an increase in body temperature to 38-39 ° C.General weakness, a sharp headache, nausea and vomiting, weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbance appear. Disturbed by pain in the whole body and limbs.

Treatment. Anti-tick donor immunoglobulin and ribonuclease are used as etiotropic therapy. Serotherapy is carried out during a febrile period, usually 3 days, with human gamma globulin having a titer to tick-borne encephalitis virus of at least 1:80, in a dose of 1.5-3 ml 1-2 times a day intramuscularly. Ribonuclease is injected in 10 mg in 3 ml of isotonic sodium chloride solution intramuscularly 4-6 times a day during the febrile period and 2 more days after the temperature drops.

Prevention. In natural foci of tick-borne encephalitis, measures are being taken to protect the population from attack by ticks using anti-tick overalls, repellents (dimethyl and dibutyl phthalates). If adherent ticks are found after their removal, a specific donor immunoglobulin is used (for adults, 3 ml intramuscularly). It is not recommended to use unboiled milk in food. Specific prophylaxis is carried out according to epidemic indications 1-1.5 months before the season of tick activity by using a cultured concentrated vaccine.The vaccine is injected subcutaneously in 1 ml according to the scheme, which includes a primary course of 4 injections at intervals of 7-10, 20-30 days, 4 ~ 6 months and three annual remote revaccinations. After a full course of vaccinations (7 injections), immunity lasts for 5 years , , and therefore repeated revaccinations are recommended after 4 years for people living in an endemic territory.

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne borreliosis) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus borrelia and transmitted by ticks, mainly affecting the skin, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and heart.A patient with tick-borne borreliosis is not contagious to others. Borreliosis has a very diverse clinical picture, which can complicate its timely diagnosis.

The process of development of Lyme disease. Infection with tick-borne borreliosis occurs when an infected tick bites. And not only in the forest, but also in the forest parks inside the city. Borrelia with tick saliva enter the skin and multiply for several days, after which they spread to other areas of the skin and internal organs (heart, brain, joints).Borrelia for a long time (years) can persist in the human body, causing a chronic and recurrent course of the disease. The chronic course of the disease can develop after a long period of time.

The incubation period of tick-borne borreliosis is from 2 to 30 days, on average – 2 weeks. A characteristic sign of the onset of the disease in 70% of cases is the appearance of reddening of the skin at the site of a tick bite. The red spot gradually increases along the periphery, reaching 1-10 cm in diameter, sometimes up to 60 cm or more.The shape of the spot is round or oval, less often irregular. The outer edge of the inflamed skin is more intensely red, rising somewhat above the level of the skin. Over time, the central part of the spot turns pale or acquires a bluish tint, a ring shape is created. At the site of the tick bite, in the center of the spot, a crust is determined, then a scar. The spot remains without treatment for 2-3 weeks, then disappears. After 1-1.5 months, signs of damage to the nervous system, heart, joints develop.

Prevention of borreliosis.Is there a vaccine for Lyme borreliosis? A vaccine for Lyme borreliosis was developed and used in the United States until 2002, but then it was discontinued, mainly for commercial reasons. The next generation of vaccines is under development in Europe, but there are currently no approved vaccines.

Nonspecific prophylaxis of tick-borne borreliosis becomes a very important point. Main preventive measures:

• When walking in the forest, you must wear protective clothing – long-sleeved shirts, boots, long trousers, gloves, hats.Tuck your outerwear into your pants and your pants into your socks;
• it is better to apply insect repellent on clothes in advance;
• After you come home, take off your clothes outside the living quarters and carefully examine them, paying special attention to folds, seams, pockets;
• if the tick has attached to the skin, it must be carefully removed with tweezers, the tick is removed with twisting movements by the head;
• If there are no tweezers or special devices for removing ticks at hand, then the tick can be removed using a thread.A strong thread is tied into a knot as close to the tick proboscis as possible, then the tick is removed by pulling it up. Sudden movements are unacceptable;
• after removing the tick, the skin at the site of its suction is treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol;

What to do if bitten by a tick?

If a tick suction has occurred, the initial consultation can always be obtained by calling 103. To remove the tick, you will most likely be referred to your clinic or emergency room.However, if you are not going to a medical facility, in the first week or two after the bite, take a closer look at your well-being. Alarming symptoms may include fever, weakness, and increased redness at the site of the bite. If you do not have the opportunity to seek help from a medical facility, then the tick will have to be removed on your own. It should be borne in mind that the likelihood of contracting tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne borreliosis and other infections transmitted by ticks depends on the amount of virus that penetrates during the tick “bite” (that is, the time during which the tick was in a sucked state) – the earlier you remove the parasite is better.It is convenient to remove ticks with curved tweezers or a surgical clamp, in principle any other tweezers will do. In this case, the tick must be grasped as close to the proboscis as possible, then it is carefully pulled up, while rotating around its axis in a convenient direction. Usually, after 1-3 turns, the tick is removed entirely together with the proboscis. If you try to pull out the tick, then the probability of its rupture is high. If you have neither tweezers nor special devices for removing ticks at hand, then the tick can be removed using a thread.A strong thread is tied into a knot as close to the tick proboscis as possible, then the tick is removed by pulling it up. Sudden movements are unacceptable. Removal of the tick must be done with caution, without squeezing its body, since it is possible to squeeze the contents of the tick together with pathogens into the wound. It is important not to rupture the tick when removing it – the remaining part in the skin can cause inflammation and suppuration. It should be borne in mind that when the tick head is torn off, the infection process can continue, since there is a significant concentration of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the salivary glands and ducts.If, when removing the tick, its head comes off, which looks like a black dot, the place of suction is wiped with cotton wool or a bandage moistened with alcohol, and then the head is removed with a sterile needle (pre-calcined on fire) in the same way as you remove an ordinary splinter. There are no grounds for some far-fetched advice that for better removal, ointment dressings or oil solutions should be applied to the sucked tick. The oil can block the airways of the mite and the mite will die and remain in the skin.After removing the tick, the skin at the site of its suction is treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol. Bandaging is usually not required.

Doctor-epidemiologist MM Dubinskaya

More ticks: a new virus causing fever has been found in “Vector” | Articles

Specialists of the Vector Center of Rospotrebnadzor have discovered a new virus that can cause symptoms of fever in people. It was named Manych.The virus was found in serum samples from several people in Russia. This is a multicomponent pathogen: its peculiarity is that four particles of the virus must combine in the host cell to reproduce. Experts believe that so far it does not pose a particular danger, but they do not exclude the possibility that Manych will mutate. You can get the virus from a tick bite.

Hold the tick

In 2014, Chinese scientists spoke about the new Jingmen tick virus. They found it in the salivary glands of various types of mites.Most often, the virus was found in insects collected from dogs and cows. JMTV was later reported in Uganda, Guinea, Europe and the provinces bordering Russia in northern China.

Specialists of the State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector” of Rospotrebnadzor for the first time discovered a previously unknown virus closely related to JMTV . It was found in serum samples from several people. This suggested that pathogens of the JMTV group can successfully multiply in human tissues, in particular, participate in the pathogenesis of the development of various tick-borne viral infections after a parasite bite.

Photo: RIA Novosti / Pavel Lisitsyn

JMTV is carried by the same ticks as Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHF) . All infected CCHF are recorded mainly in the Stavropol Territory and in the Rostov Region; tick collection is also carried out mainly in these regions.

A virus closely related to JMTV was discovered by chance, since, as is customary, the material was investigated to identify all possible pathogens with a clinical picture of similar to CCHF, Izvestia was told at the Stavropol Anti-Plague Institute.Material from 20 patients with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of CCHF was transferred to the Vector Center for testing new test systems.

– We studied the blood serum of people from medical institutions in the Rostov region with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. And 90,085 in four samples out of 20, JMTV RNA was detected, so we analyzed the found material in more detail , – said Anastasia Gladysheva, junior researcher at the Department of Molecular Virology of Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis at the Vector Center of Rospotrebnadzor.

All Rostov samples differed from the known viruses of the JMTV group. Therefore, it was decided 90,085 to name the new virus Manych . Manych is a river in the Stavropol Territory, Rostov Region and Kalmykia, a left tributary of the Don. The virus is named after the river.

Photo: RIA Novosti / Grigory Sysoev

– In all likelihood, the new virus was transmitted to humans through the bite of the tick, which most often infects humans with the CCHF virus, said Anastasia Gladysheva.- We concluded that JMTV Manych, together with the CCHF virus, is capable of causing a viral infection in humans with clinical manifestations characteristic of this fever.

All 20 patients were hospitalized . The main symptoms are 90,085 high temperature about 39 ° C and chills, a “classic” fever . Patients were treated according to the CCHF treatment regimen and 90,085 all recovered.

Evolution of the virus

Previously, scientists proved that viruses of the JMTV complex can cause mono-infection in humans.

– According to foreign studies, JMTV causes a local inflammatory reaction at the site of the bite , – noted Andrey Pozdnyakov, infectious disease doctor, chief physician of Invitro-Siberia. – It is likely that these viruses cause fever as well. The work of specialists from “Vector” claims that this virus is already present in ticks on the territory of the Russian Federation. But as long as it is transmitted through tick bites, it won’t be a big problem for . If it starts to be transmitted through mosquito bites (so far there are no prerequisites for this), the problem will become greater, and if it starts to be transmitted by airborne droplets, it will be really dangerous.After all, the question of the problematic nature of any microorganism is not only in its pathogenicity, but also in its infectivity, and in the transmission mechanism.

Photo: RIA Novosti / Denis Abramov

But even a small mutation of the virus can cause new symptoms in an infected person and new diseases . For example, there are many coronaviruses in the world, but one variant caused the pandemic – SARS-CoV-2.

– The pathway of the emergence of a dangerous pathogen, when it first circulates in the animal population, then, with close contact with humans, evolves and becomes capable of being transmitted from person to person, is quite standard, – noted a leading researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Moscow State University.M.V. Lomonosov Roman Zinovkin. – However it is too early to talk about the danger of the new virus . Dozens of different viruses can be found in the human body that are not harmful to health. However, of course, needs to continue to study this new virus.

The viruses of the JMTV group (and Manych in particular) have a peculiarity: their genome is divided into four segments, each of which is “packed” into a separate viral particle . All four 90,085 particles must fuse in the host cell for the virus to replicate .The known viruses pathogenic for humans and animals do not have such a feature.

According to Roman Zinovkin, this feature only complicates the reproduction of the virus. However, Andrei Pozdnyakov suggested that 90,085 so the virus can escape from the body’s immune response.

Existing data on the genetic diversity and taxonomy of viruses in the JMTV complex is still very limited. This does not allow for a more detailed assessment of the geographic features of these viruses. But even the available data shows that Jingmen tick virus actually spreads globally. There is no data yet on the detection of the Manych virus in regions other than southern Russia.

Justin Bieber: “I’m not on drugs. I have Lyme disease”

January 9, 2020

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

At Christmas 2019, Justin Bieber said he wanted to return to the stage

Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber revealed his diagnosis: he has Lyme disease, also known as tick-borne borreliosis.

“I had a difficult two years,” wrote the 25-year-old singer on Instagram.“A lot of people constantly said that Justin Bieber looked terrible, was on drugs, etc., but they just didn’t know my diagnosis.”

In addition to borreliosis, which Bieber was diagnosed with late last year, he suffers from a chronic viral infection that affects skin, brain function, energy levels and overall health

Bieber wrote that he is fighting the disease and is determined to win

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium carried by ticks.

Symptoms are varied and include fever, rash, neuralgic pain, and in some cases the heart and eyes are affected.

Will Justin Bieber be cured

The singer told his followers on Instagram, of which he has 124 million, that he is receiving the right treatment.

He wrote that although the disease is completely incurable, he is struggling and will soon post a documentary series on YouTube. “You will see everything about how I fight and WIN !!” – wrote Bieber, promising that he will return to creativity and will be “better than before.”

Rumors of the singer’s drug addiction spread after several photos in which he looked very exhausted and his face was covered with pimples.

The superstar’s wife, model (and daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin) Hailey Bieber defended her husband, who began to be ridiculed on social networks and reproached for overly dramatizing his diagnosis.

“Explore the matter for yourself and listen to the stories of people who have suffered for many years. Educate yourself,” she wrote.

What is Lyme disease (borreliosis)?

• The disease is caused by a bacterium carried by a particular type of tick in the Northern Hemisphere. In Britain, 13% of ticks are infected with borreliosis.
• Lyme disease is not spread from person to person.
• Red rash, fatigue and high fever usually appear about three weeks after the tick bite.

Photo Credit, Science Photo Library

• Most patients who take a full three-week course of antibiotics recover completely, but some have symptoms that last for several years.The reason why some people are more susceptible to Lyme disease is unclear. In any case, if you suspect this disease, you should immediately consult a doctor.
• Ticks live in tall grass. In Britain, a well-known breeding ground for pathogens is the Scottish Highlands.

Source: NHS .

How to avoid a tick bite

How to remove a tick?

It is better to have it done by a doctor at any trauma center.It should be removed very carefully so as not to break off the proboscis, which is deeply and strongly strengthened for the entire period of suction.

When removing a tick, the following recommendations must be observed:

– grab the tick with tweezers or fingers wrapped in clean gauze as close as possible to its mouth apparatus and holding strictly perpendicular to the bite surface, rotate the tick body around its axis, remove it from the skin,

– disinfect the bite site with any means suitable for these purposes (70% alcohol, 5% iodine, cologne),

– after removing the tick, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water,

– if a black dot remains (detachment of the head or proboscis), treat with 5% iodine and leave until natural elimination.

The removed tick must be delivered for examination to the microbiological laboratory “FGUZ” Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology “or other laboratories conducting such research.

Infections transmitted by ticks include tick-borne viral encephalitis, Crimean hemorrhagic fever, ixodic tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), tularemia, tick-borne rickettsioses, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Tick-borne viral encephalitis is an acute infectious viral disease, with a primary lesion of the central nervous system.The consequences of the disease: from complete recovery to health problems leading to disability and death.

The causative agent of the disease (arbovirus) is transmitted to a person in the first minutes of sucking a tick infected with a virus along with anesthetic saliva when visiting endemic KVE territories in forests, forest parks, individual garden plots, when ticks are introduced by animals (dogs, cats) or people – on clothes, with flowers, branches, etc. (infection of people who do not visit the forest), as well as, when eating raw milk of goats (most often), sheep, cows, buffaloes, in which during the period of a mass attack of ticks, the virus can be in milk.Therefore, in disadvantaged areas for tick-borne encephalitis, it is necessary to use this product only after boiling. It should be emphasized that not only raw milk is contagious, but also products made from it: cottage cheese, sour cream, etc., when a virus is rubbed into the skin when crushing a tick or scratching the bite site.

At present, tick-borne encephalitis is registered in many territories of Russia, where ticks are its main carriers. The most disadvantaged regions in terms of morbidity are the North-West, Ural, Siberian and Far Eastern regions.In the Central Federal District, Kostromskaya, Ivanovskaya, Tverskaya and Yaroslavskaya are endemic. The territory of Moscow and the Moscow region (except for Dmitrovsky and Taldomsky districts) is safe in terms of KVE.

The Bryansk region is not endemic for tick-borne encephalitis. But, at the same time, on the territory of the Bryansk region there are active natural foci of another tick-borne infection – Lyme disease (ixodic tick-borne borreliosis).

Ixodic tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease) is an infectious vector-borne natural focal disease caused by spirochetes and transmitted by ticks, with a tendency to chronic and recurrent course and predominant damage to the skin, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and heart.The causative agents of tick-borne borreliosis are spirochetes of the genus Borrelia. The causative agent is closely related to ixodid ticks and their natural hosts.

A patient with tick-borne borreliosis is not contagious to others.

For the first time, the study of the disease began in 1975 in the town of Lyme (USA).

How can you get infected?

Infection with tick-borne borreliosis occurs when an infected tick bites. Borrelia with tick saliva enter the skin and multiply for several days, after which they spread to other areas of the skin and internal organs (heart, brain, joints, etc.)). Borrelia for a long time (years) can persist in the human body, causing a chronic and recurrent course of the disease. The chronic course of the disease can develop after a long period of time. The process of development of the disease in borreliosis is similar to the process of development of syphilis.

What are the main symptoms of the disease?

The incubation period of tick-borne borreliosis is from 2 to 30 days, on average – 2 weeks. A characteristic sign of the onset of the disease in 70% of cases is the appearance of reddening of the skin at the site of a tick bite.The red spot gradually increases along the periphery, reaching 1-10 cm in diameter, sometimes up to 60 cm or more. The shape of the spot is round or oval, less often irregular. The outer edge of the inflamed skin is more intensely red, rising somewhat above the level of the skin. Over time, the central part of the spot turns pale or acquires a bluish tint, a ring shape is created. At the site of the tick bite, in the center of the spot, a crust is determined, then a scar. The spot remains without treatment for 2-3 weeks, then disappears. After 1-1.5 months.signs of damage to the nervous system, heart, joints develop.

The appearance of a red spot at the site of a tick bite gives reason to think primarily of Lyme disease. A blood test is performed to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment should be carried out in an infectious diseases hospital, where therapy is carried out aimed at the destruction of borrelia. Without such treatment, the disease progresses, becomes chronic, and in some cases leads to disability.

Who is susceptible to infection?

All people, regardless of age and gender, are susceptible to tick-borne infections.

Persons whose activities are associated with staying in stations inhabited by ticks are at greatest risk – workers of timber industry enterprises, exploration parties, builders of roads and railways, oil and gas pipelines, power lines, topographers, hunters, tourists. Citizens become infected in suburban forests, forest parks, and garden plots.

How can you protect yourself from tick-borne infections?

Tick-borne encephalitis can be prevented by non-specific and specific prophylaxis.There are no vaccines against tick-borne borreliosis, so only non-specific prophylaxis methods remain.

Nonspecific prophylaxis includes the use of special protective suits (for organized contingents) or adapted clothing that should prevent ticks from crawling through the collar and cuffs. The shirt should have long sleeves, which are reinforced with an elastic band at the wrists. Tuck the shirt into trousers, the ends of the trousers into socks and boots. The head and neck are covered with a scarf.

To protect against ticks, repellent agents are used, which are used to treat exposed areas of the body and clothing.

Before using drugs, you should read the instructions.

Each person, being in a natural hearth during the season of activity and insects, should periodically inspect their clothes and body on their own or with the help of other people, and remove the identified ticks.

Measures of specific prophylaxis of tick-borne viral encephalitis include: preventive vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis are carried out to individuals of certain professions who work in endemic foci or leave for them.It should be remembered that it is necessary to complete the entire vaccination course against tick-borne encephalitis 2 weeks before leaving for a disadvantaged territory. The course of vaccination with domestic vaccines consists of two vaccinations with an interval of 1-7 months. Therefore, if you plan to visit areas endemic for tick-borne encephalitis, vaccinations should be started in advance.

90,000 Tick fever. What you need to know before going outdoors | Health

But, as they say, to be afraid of ticks … And ahead is summer, a summer cottage, mushrooms, a herbarium for a second grader (be it wrong!).Therefore, instead of shaking or hiding from ticks in an apartment, it is worth remembering

the most basic rules of protection against infectious bloodsuckers.

There is no tick vaccine!
There is only a vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis, it is able to protect a person in at least 95% of cases, but only from tick-borne encephalitis, and not from all diseases carried by ticks. Therefore, you should not neglect the elementary rules of prevention against tick bites and once again expose yourself to danger.

Spray

Special tick repellent can be used.

Watching

When you return, ask a friend to look at your back, behind your ears and in your hair. Examine the rest yourself. Inspection is the most important thing!

Delete

As soon as you see a tick, remove it immediately !!! Anything! Nail tweezers are ideal, but you can also just tie a thread around the mouth of the tick and pull it out.

Dressing

It is advisable to dress correctly in the forest! Long sleeves and trousers tucked into boots, a cap – all light in color (to make the tick easier to notice).

Taking the test

No need to listen to myths about the remaining mite head in the skin! This part of it is completely safe (tick infection in the intestine). Remember: the sooner you remove the parasite, the less chance of infection !!!

When you return home, have a blood test for Lyme disease.

Where to take a tick for analysis

Studies of ixodid ticks for infection with pathogens of tick-borne viral encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis are carried out in laboratories:

• FBUZ “Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Chelyabinsk Region” (Chelyabinsk, Svoboda st., 147).

• LLC “Invitro – Ural” (Rossiyskaya str., 275; Pobedy ave., 388b; Sverdlovskiy pr., 86, tel .: 8-800-200-36-30, 8 (351) 729-88-33) …

• “Progressive medical technologies” (st.Vorovskogo, 60, tel. 8 (351)

262-79-93).

• Branch of the FBUZ “Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology” (Magnitogorsk, Sergei Lazo St., 31; Miass, Academician Pavlova St., 8).

If you have any questions, call Rospotrebnadzor in the Chelyabinsk Region: 8 (351) 261-54-65.

See also:

Official website of the Municipal Formation Municipal District No. 15 St. Petersburg

Tick-borne encephalitis.

Tick-borne viral encephalitis (hereinafter – TVE) is a natural focal acute viral infectious disease with a transmissible mechanism of transmission of the pathogen.Depending on the form of the disease, its manifestations are fever, headache, convulsions, vomiting, impaired coordination of movements, pain along the nerves, flaccid paresis and paralysis.

Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital. A sick person with tick-borne encephalitis is not contagious and does not pose a danger to others.

The foci of TVE are widespread in the temperate climatic zone of Eurasia, from the Far East to Western Europe, and the area of ​​the tick-borne encephalitis virus coincides with the area of ​​infection vectors – ixodid ticks living in forest and forest-steppe biotopes.

Ticks infect humans when they are sucked or crushed in areas of damaged human skin. The reservoir of the TVE virus is ixodid ticks and rodents. Ticks are fed by large and small mammals and birds.

How to protect yourself from ticks? It is necessary to follow the rules of conduct in dangerous areas with respect to ticks:

– carry out self and mutual examinations every 10 – 15 minutes to detect ticks;

– do not sit down or lie down on the grass;

– Arrange campsites and overnight stays in the forest in areas devoid of grass vegetation or in dry pine forests on sandy soils;

– after returning from the forest or before spending the night, take off your clothes, carefully examine the body and clothes;

– Do not bring freshly plucked plants, outerwear and other objects on which ticks may appear in the room;

– Examine dogs and other animals to detect and remove attached and sucked ticks from them.

Dress in such a way as to facilitate a quick check for ticks: wear plain and light colored clothing; tuck trousers into boots, knee-highs or socks with a dense elastic band, the upper part of clothes – into trousers; sleeve cuffs should fit snugly against the arm; shirt collars and trousers should not have a fastener or have a tight fastener, under which a tick cannot crawl; put on a hood on your head, sewn to a shirt, jacket or tuck your hair under a kerchief or hat.

Use special chemical means of individual protection against ticks: acaricidal agents (intended for processing outerwear, use on the skin is unacceptable) and repellent agents (intended for processing outerwear, application on the skin is possible to protect against blood-sucking dipterans).

If a tick is found, the tick must be removed as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection. Seek medical help at the local hospital or trauma center.

Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is carried out to persons of hotel professions working in endemic areas. To do this, you should contact the clinic at your place of residence. It should be remembered that it is necessary to complete the vaccination course against tick-borne encephalitis 2 weeks before leaving for a territory unfavorable for tick-borne encephalitis.

Attention pediculosis!

Pediculosis (lice) is considered one of the most common parasitic diseases among humans and is a parasitism on the human body of lice that feed on his blood. It is impossible to find out exactly the indicators, since most people do not seek medical help and sanitization in specialized institutions, but independently cope with parasites at home.

Lice are wingless insects ranging in size from 1-1.5 mm to 2-4.5 mm, their body is flattened, legs are armed with hooks that help to hold tightly to hair or linen.

Lice that live in the hair (head louse), underwear (body louse) and in the hair of the pubic region (pubic louse) are permanent human parasites.

Lice bites cause severe itching and, which is very important, they are carriers of the pathogens of typhus and other infections (body louse).

Female lice begin to lay eggs (nits) in 1-2 days after reaching puberty.Nits are white, oblong, up to 1mm long. Live nits are shiny and firmly adhered to hair or underwear, unlike dandruff, which is easily removed.

The presence of itching, scratching, yellowish-honey crusts in the occipital and temporal regions of the head, behind the ears in the patient indicates the need for a thorough examination of the scalp in order to detect nits and lice (head lice).

The body louse lives and lays eggs in the folds of underwear, clothes, especially in the area of ​​the belt, collar, cuffs, sleeves, where the clothes fit most tightly to the body.Most often, the louse affects the skin of the lower back and neck, i.e. areas corresponding to the folds of the clothing.

The pubic louse is firmly attached to the base of the hair, mainly on the skin of the pubis, bordering parts of the abdomen and thighs. Sometimes it crawls to other areas covered with hair (axillary fossa, chest, mustache, beard, eyelashes, eyebrows, and in children, on the scalp). On the skin, in addition to scratching, from bites characteristic bluish-bluish spots of small sizes appear, which do not disappear with pressure.As a treatment, it is recommended to shave the hair, wash the skin with hot water and soap.

The anatomy of lice does not allow movement in any other way, except to crawl from place to place, therefore, lice are transferred directly through direct contact with a sick person or care items. Lice can be kept alive in water for up to 3 days.

Infection occurs through contact in organized groups, crowded places, when living together in a family, apartment (using common combs, brushes, bedding, clothes, etc.)etc.). Infection with pubic head lice usually occurs through sexual intercourse, but sometimes through bedding.

To prevent head lice, personal hygiene is crucial: regular washing, frequent linen change (at least once every 7 days), use of individual combs, hats, linen, clothing, keeping hair, clothing and home clean.

If you suspect head lice, the treatment can be carried out on your own, using an anti-pediculosis agent strictly in accordance with the attached instructions.If people with skin diseases, allergies, children under 5 years old do not want to use anti-lice preparations, then it is necessary to mechanically comb out lice and nits with a frequent comb, haircut is possible. Simultaneously with the treatment of head lice, it is imperative to change the underwear and bed linen, followed by washing. All family members are subject to a mandatory examination for head lice, and if head lice is detected and processed.

If you suspect a head lice, you should contact a medical institution, the medical worker of which will give a referral for treatment.It is also necessary to carry out processing (disinsection) of things and apartments.

A specialized institution for anti-pediculosis treatment operates in St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg State Budgetary Institution “St. Petersburg City Disinfection Station” at the address: Finsky per., 4.

What you need to know about TB for your personal safety?

• Tuberculosis is an airborne infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Source of infection: a person with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The causative agent of tuberculosis enters the human body by inhaling “contaminated” air together with droplets of saliva and sputum, which are thrown out by the patient when talking, coughing, sneezing.

• A third of the world’s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but not all of them are sick.

• In most people, the body’s defenses prevent the development of tuberculosis.

In some cases, with massive infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the disease develops rapidly.

• In other cases, under the influence of protective forces, the infection becomes dormant. In this case, the development of tuberculosis is facilitated by factors that weaken the body’s defenses: overwork, prolonged excessive anxiety, malnutrition, drug and alcohol use, as well as chronic diseases, when “dormant” mycobacterium tuberculosis begins to multiply and cause illness.
• Tuberculosis most often affects the lungs, but the infection can affect any other organ.

Tuberculosis is contagious and very dangerous!

Signs of tuberculosis:

Slight increase in body temperature in the evenings.

General weakness and fatigue, increased sweating.

Decreased appetite, weight loss.

Cough for more than 2-3 weeks.

Chest pain for more than 3 weeks.

Hemoptysis.

If these signs appear, consult a doctor!

The earlier tuberculosis is detected , the easier it is to treat!

How is tuberculosis detected?

Methods for early detection of tuberculosis in the adult population include fluorography and Mantoux test, in children, Mantoux test or Diaskin test.

Fluorography allows diagnosing all cases of pulmonary tuberculosis from small to destructive forms and various other pathologies of the chest organs: tumors, pneumonia. Therefore, for the timely detection of tuberculosis, residents of St. Petersburg need to undergo fluorography annually. Mantoux test allows you to determine if you are infected with a tubercle bacillus. What does infection mean? Infection with tuberculosis occurs mainly in childhood and by the age of 17, about 50% of adolescents in our city are infected with tuberculosis.

Initially, at the first contact with mycobacterium tuberculosis, the so-called infection occurs, when there are no external manifestations, and the fact of penetration of the pathogen into the body can only be determined by the altered reaction of MANTU. The MANTU reaction is not a vaccination, but a diagnostic test that shows the presence of an allergic reaction to tuberculosis.

If the results of the examination indicate the possibility of infection with tuberculosis, the child is subject to compulsory examination at the anti-tuberculosis dispensary.In this situation, an important role is played by the attitude of parents and their awareness of the need for a thorough examination, further treatment or preventive treatment. Refusal of parents from treatment, evasion of examination often leads to the development of active tuberculosis in an infected child.

In order not to get sick with tuberculosis you should:

Eat right. Nutrition should be sufficient and balanced. The diet should include foods that strengthen the immune system: meat, eggs, beans,

fish, cheese, cottage cheese, peas, nuts, vegetables, fruits.Get rid of bad habits, as smoking, alcohol, drugs reduce the body’s defenses.

Attentive attitude to your own health, A timely visit to a doctor when signs of tuberculosis appear will help to avoid the development of the disease !

Your health is in your hands!

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